CENAP Infoline - no 022

Magazine Overview

Title: cenap-infoline
Issue: 22
Date: July 15, 1995
Publisher: CENAP
Country: Germany
Language: German

This issue of cenap-infoline, a bi-weekly information bulletin on the UFO scene, covers several topics related to unexplained phenomena and scientific investigations.

Project Phoenix Finds No Aliens

The main cover story reports on the conclusion of the "Phoenix Project," a privately funded initiative that used the large Parkes radio telescope in Australia to search for extraterrestrial signals. After monitoring for months, the project ended on June 27th, having registered over 100 false alarms caused by satellites, airplanes, garage door openers, and a microwave oven. Despite this outcome, the search for extraterrestrial messages is considered to have just begun, with plans to move the detector electronics to the Northern Hemisphere.

SETI Project Facing Uncertainty

The "SETI Project" (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is also discussed, with news that NASA is withdrawing its support from the SERENDIP project. SERENDIP was a low-cost program that paralleled normal radio astronomy observations at the Arecibo telescope to listen for signs of alien life. The article suggests that private funding might be sought to continue the program, as its operational costs are significantly lower than the Phoenix Project.

Noctilucent Clouds Return

The issue announces the beginning of the 1995 noctilucent cloud season over Germany. These clouds, appearing at an altitude of approximately 83 km, are visible when the sun is between 6 and 16 degrees below the horizon, primarily in June and July. Specific conditions in the mesopause, such as temperatures below -140 degrees Celsius, are necessary for their formation. The article notes that while they resemble cirrus clouds, noctilucent clouds are illuminated by the sun and appear bluish-white. The first sightings in Potsdam were reported on the night of June 8th/9th, with observations of a brighter area in the evening and multiple bright bands in the early morning.

Illobrand's Error: A Boy's Prank

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to debunking a UFO sighting reported in Fehrenbach, Thuringia, on October 25, 1994. A 13-year-old boy named Karsten claimed to have witnessed an oval object with a blue, crystalline dome and photographed it seven times. Illobrand von Ludwiger, a prominent UFO researcher and author, along with Rolf-Dieter Klein, analyzed the Polaroid photos and concluded they were genuine, though they questioned what was controlling the "anomalous atmospheric phenomena." However, the article reveals that members of the GEP (Gesellschaft zur Erforschung des Ufo-Phänomens) investigated the case and found a mundane explanation: the object was a cheap plastic toy, approximately 13 centimeters long, purchased from a flea market. Karsten and his 14-year-old friend Sascha reportedly admitted to throwing the toy in the air and photographing it. This case is presented as an example of how UFO researchers can be misled by simple pranks.

Skepticism and Scientific Methodology

Rudolf Henke from the GWUP (Gesellschaft zur wissenschaftlichen Untersuchung von Parawissenschaften) criticizes the methodology of UFO researchers like von Ludwiger, calling it "charlatanry" and stating that it's impossible to prove even the most basic trick through photo analysis. Von Ludwiger defends his approach, arguing that those who challenge taboos become "free game" for skeptics and insists that unidentified flying objects exist and have measurable interactions. Henke dismisses such claims as trivial.

The article also touches upon the operations of MUFON-CES in Munich, a private organization with 100 members, including scientists and psychologists, who receive around 60 "unexplained sightings" annually. The setting is described as a room filled with computers, generating a warm atmosphere.

Reader Letters and Commentary

Several reader letters offer commentary on the Fehrenbach case and the broader UFO research community. Werner Walter from CENAP thanks FOCUS for exposing how UFO ideologues were misled by a simple prank. Walter Jörg Langbein criticizes the perceived arrogance of MUFON-CES, suggesting that their "amateur researchers" are more thorough than established academics. He implies that MUFON-CES's insistence on the "saucer proof" without doubt is a continuation of flawed investigations, and that von Ludwiger might resort to legal action rather than admitting errors.

Other News Items

RAF Retires Balloons: The Royal Air Force (RAF) has decommissioned its balloon operations after over 100 years. The Balloon Operations Squadron was officially disbanded, and balloon training for paratroopers will now be handled by a civilian company. The RAF had 20 Mark 11D balloons in service, each 25 meters long and costing over 90,000 pounds.

"Predator" Spy Plane: The new US secret weapon, the "Predator," is described as an unmanned aircraft that functions as a reconnaissance drone, capable of flying at 6,000 meters and equipped with cameras to provide images of enemy positions. Its advantage is that no pilot lives are at risk if the aircraft is shot down. Its first planned deployment is in Bosnia.

Teure Tarnkappen-Bomber Riesen-Flop (Expensive Stealth Bomber Giant Flop): The article reports that the new US stealth bomber, the B2, is allegedly useless. Its radar, costing approximately 3 billion Marks per unit, cannot distinguish between mountains and rain, displaying both as obstacles. In rainy conditions, the bomber becomes visible to enemy radar. The US General Accounting Office has reported this issue. 13 B2 bombers have been delivered to the US Air Force, with 20 more under construction, totaling an estimated 100 billion Marks.

Galileo Space Probe Reaches Jupiter: The Galileo space probe, which departed in October 1989, has reached its destination, the planet Jupiter. The mission's most exciting phase begins with the main probe releasing its measuring capsule towards Jupiter. In December, this capsule will descend into Jupiter's atmosphere to transmit data for about an hour before succumbing to the immense pressure. The main probe will then use its engines to adjust its course towards Jupiter's moon Io, which it will reach on December 7th, before entering orbit around Jupiter to study its moons and the planet itself.

CENAP Archive Offers

The magazine includes advertisements for CENAP ARCHIVE, offering back issues of CENAP-REPORT for 5 DM each and a selection of books on UFOs, Atlantis, and other related topics. Contact information for ordering these materials is provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI and the Phoenix Project), the critical examination of UFO sightings through scientific and skeptical lenses, and the reporting of unusual atmospheric phenomena. The editorial stance appears to favor a critical and evidence-based approach to UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the debunking of the Fehrenbach sighting and the inclusion of skeptical viewpoints. There is also an interest in technological advancements and space exploration, as seen in the reports on the Predator drone, the B2 bomber, and the Galileo mission.